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Group Unveils Coalition To Promote Developmental Reporting Across Africa
By Abubakar Yunusa
The Pro-Poor Development Media Network (PDM-Network) has launched a coalition for journalists focused on developmental reporting in Nigeria and Africa.
The coalition is designed to overcome collaboration barriers among media outlets, journalists, and development partners, including researchers.
Omobayo Azeez, secretary of PDM-Network’s board of directors, described the initiative, named the “Pro-poor Development Journalists’ Coalition (PDJC)”, as a project committed to inclusive media coverage and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
Azeez said PDJC’s primary objective is to advocate for the consideration of the poor in public policies and programmes, using the media as a bridge between the government and the underprivileged.
“PDJC is a flagship of PDM-Network and one of the many inclusive media initiatives expected from the network,” he said.
“PDJC will benefit from various interventions, including training and fellowship opportunities for journalists and excursions to enable journalists to report on stories that matter and drive development for those at the lowest rung of society’s ladder.”
He added that although the coalition is starting in Nigeria, it is designed with a Pan-African outlook, and the board is dedicated to collaborating with both local and international partners.
Azeez also mentioned that the coalition comprises journalists passionate about development reporting and underreported issues affecting the poor, working across various newsrooms in Nigeria and beyond.
The coalition was officially launched during a membership onboarding session, which included an engagement with members of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) based at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.
The consortium, which operates in Lagos and Maiduguri, is a six-year project funded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth Development Organisation (FCDO). It focuses on researching key developmental issues like health, education, and housing.
Bimbo Oloyede chairs the board of directors for PDM-Network, alongside Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of Premium Times, and Garba Kabir, Weekend titles editor of the Guardian Newspaper.
During the inaugural partnership meeting, Chris Jordan, ACRC’s communications and impact manager, emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between researchers and journalists.
He highlighted the role of journalists in conveying research findings for the benefit of communities.
Jordan explained that impact relies on communication, knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and evidence uptake.
He cited the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which defines research impact as the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy.
He noted that co-producing with policymakers maximises impact potential, referencing an analysis of 500 development economic projects funded by the International Growth Centre.
The analysis showed that collaborating with policymakers increases the likelihood of policy change by 17 to 20 percentage points.
“This magnitude is substantial compared to the mere 3 percent of non-partnership projects that resulted in evidence uptake,” Jordan said.
In a presentation titled “Research Communications, Engagement and Impact,” Jordan highlighted ACRC’s role in supporting journalists to report on critical developmental issues like health, security, housing, and poverty.
He noted that “communications help with impact, profile, and engagement.”
Kabir Adejumo, acting coordinator of PDM-Network, said: “This initiative aims to give voice to those who are not typically newsmakers. Our focus is on people who may not be heard except through community-based journalism, and I am pleased we have a fantastic team and coalition committed to stories about the disadvantaged.”
Earlier, Oloyede expressed the board’s commitment to supporting initiatives that advance quality reporting in the interest of the poor.
She noted that the media can set the agenda and raise awareness among the public.
She emphasised the power of collaboration, urging coalition members to stay committed to the public good.
“I think it is a great idea, which is why I came on board, and I’m all for finding ways and means of ensuring that the voiceless find ways and means of getting heard,” Oloyede said.
The Nigerian electricity sector slowed in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with the electricity production index declining by 1.64% year-on-year (y-o-y).
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says this marks a reversal from the 5.55% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).
Average estimated electricity generation rose by 2.34% to 4,206.50 megawatts per hour (MW/h) from 4,110.47 MW/h in Q3 2024.
Similarly, electricity consumption saw a modest increase of 2.63%, reaching 4,105.66 MW/h from 4,000.24 MW/h in the preceding quarter.
This is as the Nigerian economy witnessed widespread expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with 21 out of 22 subsectors recording positive growth.
On a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis, however, the subsector showed signs of recovery, as the index rose by 22.50% compared to a significant decline of 49.46% in the previous quarter.
The broad-based economic expansion in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors, including improved business confidence, increased consumer spending, and enhanced performance in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
The government’s fiscal and monetary policies, aimed at stabilising inflation and boosting investment, also contributed to the positive momentum.
According to the CBN, the improvement was largely attributed to enhanced gas supply to thermal power stations and the continued implementation of the Siemens Power Project, which has positively impacted power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
Notably, the oil and gas sector benefited from relatively stable crude oil prices and improved domestic production, which provided a boost to overall economic output.
The data also stated that the non-oil sector, particularly fintech and digital services, also played a significant role in driving economic activities.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising junta-led Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso have imposed a 0.5 percent import duty on goods from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations.
The move further strains relations between the three junta-led nations and the ECOWAS, which they withdrew from earlier this year following a series of military coups and economic sanctions.
The AES, which began as a security pact between the military rulers of the three countries in 2023, has now metamorphosed into an aspiring economic union with plans for biometric passports and closer economic and military ties.
In a joint statement last week, the AES said the levy aims to generate revenue to fund the alliance’s activities.
The tax, which came into effect on Friday, applies to all imports from ECOWAS countries, except humanitarian aid.
The taxes also disrupt the free trade once enjoyed by all countries in the West African region.
The economic implications could be severe, leading to higher consumer prices, supply chain disruptions, and strained regional economic stability.
While it may provide short-term revenue for the junta-led governments, it risks other long-term consequences, including weakened regional integration.
ECOWAS has maintained that it will keep diplomatic channels open with the junta-led states until July, despite announcing their permanent expulsion from the bloc earlier this year.
Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo state, says 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Kano-bound travellers in Uromi LGA of the state have been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
The suspects were detained after a mob attacked a group of hunters travelling to Kano for Sallah celebrations on Thursday.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during a condolence visit to Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president, Okpebholo condemned the attack and assured Nigerians that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Okpebholo also announced that his government had set up a committee to support the families of those killed.
“It’s unfortunate that it happened in our state. We are here to say, to let you and other people know that we are not happy,” Ismail Mudashir, media aide to Barau, quoted Okpebholo as saying.
“The president is doing something drastic about this. He’s not happy also.
“The IG has swung into action. The DIG CID is in charge. So far, they have arrested 14 suspects.
“So they are bringing them to Abuja for interrogation. We have also set up a committee to see that we take care of the families of the deceased.”
Responding, Barau said the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We cannot undo what has been done. But we all want – all Nigerians, what they are looking forward to is to make sure that these people are arrested and brought to justice. And you are doing well in that direction,” Barau said.
“And I’m also glad you’ve spoken about the fact that your government is ready to assist the families of those affected.
“I want you to continue to pursue the case so that all those who were involved in these barbaric actions are brought to justice. It’s a barbaric action, to say the facts.”
He urged the Edo government to ensure all those involved were held accountable, adding that such attacks must never happen again.